Adjuster for venetian blinds.



W. MUKNIGHT. DJUSTER FOR VBNETIAN BLINDS. APPLIOATION FILED PEB. 29, 1908.

909,927. Patented tm19, 1909.

` Toall whom 'it concemg f No. 909,927.

' WAYLTER-nxnrenr, or'D'AYToN, omo.

ADJUSTER Fois'J VEN-mun kisnnmls.

Bpecicationof Letters Patent'. nieuwe@ aiel' rebrg as, reet; serial No. 4.183524".v

' Patented Jaaa' 1e, 1909.

YBe it known that I, WALTER McKN1eH'r,a citizen of the United States, residing, at Dayton,-in.the county of Montgomery and Statenof Chio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjusters for Venetian Blinds, of which thel fol owing is a specification.A

My ,inventionA relates to Venetian blinds, and particularly to an adjusting device therefor, adapted to hold the slats of the blind at any degree of inclination.

vThe object of the invention is to greatly simplify the structure vas well as the means and mode of operation' of such devices,v

whereby they will not only be cheapened in construction, but will be rendered more efficient and positive in operation, easily operated and unlikely to get out of re air.

It is customary to provide a., rictionor brake device onthe rock bar ofsuch blinds,

-to hold the blind in adjusted condition, and

while such devices usually work well when 4new, the life of the brake device is very brief, and after a little use it fails to retain the slats" in adjusted position but permits the slats to gradually return tol open position.

one of the primary objects of this invntion is to rovide a lock device adapted to positively., old the slats in adjusted position, at any degree of inclination, and inclined in eitherv direction. Y. i i

A further object is to provide such a device which will be automatic in operation,

permitting the blind to be closed in the usual 'mannen' but which will automatically lock the blind in anextreme position 4to which it has been adj-usted, and to provide means for lreadily releasing the slats that they may return to normal. l

' With the aboveprimary Yand other incidental objects in view, as will appear from the specification, the invention consists of the means, mechanism, construction, and mode of operation, or their equivalents, as

. hereinafter described and set forth in thel claims.

Fi re 1 is a perspective View of the device orming the subject matter of this ap licati'on, removed from the blind.. Fig. 2 1s a transverse sectional view showing the parts in normal or open positions. Fig. 3 is a simi- .the segment. The spring 9 is the center.

tions.4 Fig.- 411s a side elevation off the rock 'bar and lock mechanism in o erated position.

Like par-ts are indicated y similar characters of reference throughout the several views 4 Referring to the drawin s, 1 is the frame 'or support bar adaptedto e1 secured to-the top of the window frame, and on which all partsof the blind are supported. Adjacent to each end of the support bar 1 is a endent bracket 2, in which is journaled a roc bar 3, from opposite edges of whichare dependent tapes 4 sup orting a series of slats 5. By

rocking the ar 3 on its trunnions, the slats 5 lare inclined and caused to over-lap each other to close the blind. By varying the degree of inclination of the slats, more or less light may be admitted through the blind, and vintermediate the slats 5. This is the usual construction `of Venetian blinds, and forms 'no part of the invention, except in combination with the hereinafter described lock mechanism as pointed out in the claims.

Secured to the upper side ofthe rock bar is a notched segment 6 having teeth in the form of ratchet teeth. The teeth of the segment 6 are arranged preferably in two series extending in opposite directions from the center of the segment as shown in Fi s. 2 and 3. lAttached to theunder side of \t e supportl bar 1 is a bracket 7 tolwhich is pivoted a pawl lever 8 engaging the teeth of the notched segment 6. A spring 9 tends to press the pawl lever 8 into engagement with (preferably arranged as in Fig. 1 with one en engaging the bracket and the opposite end engagmg the pawl lever, the ortlon intermediate the ends being coiled a ont the pivotal connection 10 of the pawl lever. However, instead of the spring 9 a coil spring as indicated at 11 in Flg. 4 mi ht be employed. The pawl lever is extended past the pivotal connection in the form of an arm 12- to which is attached a cord 13 by means of which the pawl -lever may be lifted from engagement with the notcliedsegment 6.` The teeth of the lsegment; 6 are 1n the Aform of ratchet teeth and are turnedin opposite directions from The paw lever 8 normally engages the V shaped notch intermediate the two series of ratchet teeth, in the center of the segment. When this position the i l closed condition but adapted to engage said Y gage the teeth to prevent the particular features of advantage before disposed series, the pawl 8 will ride over the ment, the slats may be freely moved toward yangular position to which it has been adjusted, and means for disengaging said slats 5 are in their wide open position. The slats may be closed or: inclined in either direction in the ,usuall manner by pulling either vof the tapes 4 or a tilting cord not shown to oscillate the rock bar 3.

When the bar 3 is oscillated the pawl lever 8 will ride freely over the teeth of the segment 6, while the bar is being oscillated to close the blind, but the pawl lever will enreturn movement of the bar 3fto normal. .By the teeth of the segment being arranged in oppositely teeth freely in either direction from the center, and willhold the 'bar in any degree of inclination. lW'hatever the degree of adjustclosed osition, and will be positively retained in the extreme position to which they have been adjusted. When it is desired to return the blind to normal, the `cord, 13 is pulled to lift the awl lever from the segment 6, when the lind may be returned to normal in the usual manner. f

One of the features of the device is that it may be applied to existing blinds, without in any wa chan 'n or modifying the structure o the bin The device is of small proportion and its location is such that it will be scarcely observed by a person on the floor of the room, thereby being entirely unobjectionable, on account of appearance, which is important in devices of this character.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus produced a device of the character described, possessing the enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in vits form, proportion, detail construction, and arrangement of parts, without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device formaintaining the slats of Venetian blinds in angular adjustment, the combination with aV blind of a notched segment the teeth of which are arranged in two reverse series adapted to oscillate therewith, a pawl lever having a fixed support engaging said segment to hold the blind in the parts, substantially as specified.

2. In a device for maintaining the slats of Venetian blinds in `angular adjustment, the combination with a blind including an oscillating member, of a notched segment on said member, a pawl lever, a stationary support for said lever, said pawl lever being adapted to ride freely over said notched segment when the blind is operated 'from' open to segment and prevent the'reverse movement of the blind to open position until disengaged from said segment, substantially as' specified.

3. In a Venetian blinds in angular adjustment, the combination with a blind including an oscil- Ylatory member, of a part having series of ratchet teeth and carried on said member, a

pawl engaging said ratchet teeth and serving to hold the blind in its operated or closed position, a means forldisengaging said pawl at any point of adjustment. whereby said blind will be permitted to return to normal or open position, substantially as specified. Y

4. In a3 device for maintaining the slats of Venetian blinds in angular adjustment, the combination with a blind of' a movable ratchet segment and a pawl engaging same, the ratchet teeth in said segment' being arranged in two series, the teeth of the respective series being turned in opposite directions from a common point, substantially as and for the purpose specified;

device for maintaining the slats of 5. In a device of the character described,

vthe combination with a blind of a movable ratchet segment and a pawl engaging same, the ratchet teeth in said segment-'being'arranged in two series, the teeth ofthe respective series being turned in opposite directions from'the center, said pawl normally resting intermediate said series, and adaptedl to ride over the teeth in either direction from the center, and to engage the teeth to retain the parts in adjusted position, and means for releasing saidpawl, substantially as specified. i

6. In a device for maintaining the slats of Venetian blinds in angular position, the

combination with a blind of a movable ratchet segment and a pawl lever engaging same, said lever extending beyond the pivotal point thereof, Aa spring holding said pawl lever in engagement with the ratchet segment, an operating cord attached to the pawl lever beyond the pivotal point and serving to disengage the pawl from said ratchet segment, substantially as specified.

7 In a device of the character described, a

blind including an oscillatory member, means for positively retaining said blind in ditl'erent degrees of adjustment including a pawl and a ratchet member, the teeth of whichV are arranged in two reverse series and means for positively lifting said pawl from engagement with said ratchet, substantially as specified.

8. In a device of the characterdescribed, a blind including an oscillatory` member, means for positively retaining said blind in different degrees of adjustment including a pawly iand a ratchet member, the teeth of said I In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set ratchet member being turned in opposite dimy hand this 15th day of February A. D.

rections from the center, whereby said awl 1908. and ratchet may be relatively move in WALTER MCKNIGHT.

. either direction and means to release the Witnesses:

pawl whereby the arts may be returnedto HARRY F. NOLAN, normal positlon, su stantially as specified. F. L. WALKER. 

